Offseason Questions & a Trade Proposal
Im wondering who is staying and leaving from the Jazz this summer? Okur, Boozer, Millsap, AK47, Korver? Which players do the Jazz fans want to keep, and the Jazz team seem rumored to want to keep? Atleast in terms of priorities, or can the Jazz just resign every impact player this summer?
If the Jazz traded AK47 (Who Iv heard has lost alot of impact switching from PF to SF because of Millsap/Boozer) and Harpring (a 10 min. player at 6.5mil) to the Magic for Rashard Lewis and a 500k-800k 1yr Magic player, the Jazz would gain about 4.4-4.5mil extra salary room immediately this summer to help resign both Boozer, Millsap or the other impact players. I dont know if it'd be enough because of the above questions I have, but I'm pretty sure it'd be enough wiggle room. Rashard Lewis is a combo forward, but a natural SF. He are his latest season numbers: 17.7PPG, 5.8RPG, 2.6APG, 1.0SPG, 44%FG, 40%3PT, 83%FT.
Scouting report: Rashard Lewis is a deadly shooter, and at 6-10 it's extremely difficult for defenders to challenge his shots. That ability also makes him a post threat against smaller defenders, but with the move to the frontcourt and the presence of Dwight Howard in the middle, we rarely saw that in Orlando. (side note: this bumps his PPG down abit, along with being a 3rd-4th option most times, but is very capable of 20+ PPG seasons esp. back in his natural SF spot) Lewis is a good driver, but its an uncommon part of his game, as he likes to take mostly jumpers and 3's at good accuracies. He likes to create a shot without dribbling by making a jab move and then going up with his sweet jumper. Lewis has also had a career high in APG last season, by using his length and improving his passing and court vision. Defensively, Lewis will never be an elite performer. However, his length is an obstacle for opposing shooters, and he's made much more concerted efforts in his last two seasons to become a slightly above average defender. His ability to defend power forwards at least somewhat competently was an underrated reason Orlando's system (using two SFs together w/ 1 center, no PFs) worked last season.
I think Lewis would be a great fit for the Jazz, with Millsap and/or Boozer inside and Williams wreaking havoc everywhere, Lewis' clutch shooting alone out on the perimeter is a great compliment. Everything else seems like gravy. He has a long term contract after that, thats not necessarily pretty I admit, but the reason why i suggest is because Lewis is still an absolutely amazing player; without him no Magic finals run this year, he has hit clutch shots all playoffs long until LA when the whole Magic sucked, he'd space the floor with sharpshooting and not be a defensive liability at all, esp with his length. And it should serve the dual-purpose of giving the Jazz enough salary space to resign whoever they want this very summer, as I made the trades as close to the mathematically possible lines for salary surplus to the Jazz.
Like it, don't like it, be intrigued by it, let me know about that trade, and have fun talking about it. And if anyone can answer the Offseason questions too please, Id much appreciate.
All comments are the opinion of the commenter and not necessarily that of SLC Dunk or SB Nation.
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The trade
I’d bite on it. Losing AK would probably hurt defensively, but he probably has to go anyways. Having Lewis would counter the starting of Brewer (who really doesn’t have a jumper) and would make things easier down low for Booze or ’Sap or whoever. Harpring is, in my mind, more or less done. He brings some physical play… which is nice, but only at times. As for the other player for the Magic… the trade would work without him. Or with someone like Adonal Foyle or JJ Redick.
As for the off-season, no idea on what’s happening (I asked CJ Miles, but he said he didn’t know). The team will probably only be able to keep one of Boozer/‘Sap… I think if Booze is going to get as much money as he want, I’d prefer they keep ’Sap.
Not sure what’s up with Okur & Korver… they can both opt out but I haven’t heard anything from either side. As for AK… he might have to be traded just so the Jazz can resign Booze & ‘Sap (if that is their goal). The Jazz rumors have been relatively quiet so-far… so it’s hard to get an idea of what they’re thinking/doing.
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RIP Nick Adenhart. 4/9/09
derekk...
can you explain why you’d bite on this trade? is it a salary thing, need for defense, something else…?
good question, i didnt really describe magic's view.
The idea is salary freedom, tho I dont like that it wont happen until 2011 summer and not in the 2010 summer because thats when AK47 finishes his own bloated contract. The other motive is that AK47 at PF for the Magic could make him a really effective player once again, as he’s still relatively young and would defend in the paint more again. He also seems to fit quite nicely with the offense style of the Magic too. Harpring is a former Magic player, itd be nice to have him back, and have some mins behind F spots with his toughness. But main thing is salary freedom down the road for the Magic.
yeah
I really don’t see it happening – nobody really wants AK’s contract.
As a Jazz fan, yes I would strongly consider this move. But as long as the Magic are contenders, they won't blow up their core.
The Magic wouldn’t like this deal I don’t think.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
What if we gave them Booze instead of AK?
I don’t know if that works, but Booze gives them a good complement to Howard… well, at least offensively.
If they’d take AK for him… I’m starting to like that deal more and more. For either Lewis or Turkoglu (who I’d prefer).
True Blue Jazz
Bucco Ball
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RIP Nick Adenhart. 4/9/09
Assuming Jazz want ’Sap over Boozer and not even together, sign and trading a resigned Boozer + Harpring does the trick and saves about 2-4mil too again. But I think Jazz might have to let him walk, or could sign and trade for a few other better deals when it concerns Boozer-caliber of a player, atleast in terms of future cap. Lewis would be sick in a Jazz jersey with Deron!
I thought I heard
Boozer sign and trade to the Nets for Vince Carter. I would rather have Vince Carter then Rashard Lewis. Vince would complete a monstrous backcourt tandem with DWill. Vince can score dish and play some D. If he can play in Toronto…he can play in Utah.
Anyone else like to see Vince Carter in a Jazz uniform?
"You can live for Nothing or die for Something, it's your call" - John Rambo
ah... no
Vince Carter is one of those players that is great in NBA live, but probably not the type of player you want playing for your team in real life.
As for his time in Toronto, the less said the better :)
I think a couple of years ago there were rumours of an AK for Carter swap, but Larry wasn’t interested in it.. Carter hit a buzzer beater a couple days later against the Jazz as well and didn’t exactly endear himself to anyone :)
I don’t know about either trade, but I think AK’s contract is killing the Jazz. I don’t think the Magic would even consider it really, especially after making it to the finals this season, trading for AK would totally change the dynamics of their team…. doesn’t make sense for them to do that.
Vinsanity
I’ll pass.
I’d rather have Lewis (or Turkoglu) than Vince, for that matter.
As for the Magic, I think they need a big to better complement Howard. Lewis/Turkoglu is a great combo, but they’re both ’3’s’, and the team really needs a 4 to play alongside Howard. Booze would fit that (but he probably doesn’t fit that), and he does have a semblance of a jumper to keep the defense honest. AK doesn’t have as reliable a jumper, but has more distance on it. He can play the 4 (maybe even more-so in the East, where you’ve got the run-and-gun Knicks, Josh Smith and Andrea Bargnani and the likes) and could be a good complement to Howard as well.
True Blue Jazz
Bucco Ball
I'm on Twitter
RIP Nick Adenhart. 4/9/09
Completely unrelated but...
UtesFan89 are you an Angels Fan and a Jazz fan ( i ask due to you Adenhart picture)… i thought i was pretty much one of a kind…. but i will happily be proven wrong
2009 Angels Season: Let's Do This For Nick
by trojanangelfan on Jun 17, 2009 9:13 PM MDT up reply actions
I favor the Angels in the AL too
but my real team is the Diamondbacks. And I know UtesFan’s real ream is the Pirates. We appreciate the Angels connection because they’re the parent club of the Salt Lake Bees, and Adenhart was a Bees alumnus.
Uh, do you think you could draw me like a ninja?
Yep
Shums is on the mark. I do follow the Angels a bit, but they’re not “my team”.
Adenhart pic… well, I needed one until the next Jazz draft pick or longer (my previous 2 have been Fesenko & The Koof)… and it fit. Let’s just say I was using it to silently protest drunk driving.
True Blue Jazz
Bucco Ball
I'm on Twitter
RIP Nick Adenhart. 4/9/09
And I was a huge Adenhart fan to boot
so it just seemed right.
True Blue Jazz
Bucco Ball
I'm on Twitter
RIP Nick Adenhart. 4/9/09
Shawn Marion?
no one is talking about Shawn Marion this offseason, but what about him throwing on a utah jersey?
i think we all agree that utah needs a big name if they want to hoist the trophy any time soon. i am not saying marion is that big name, but to bring up another point we need a big name.
what about a sign and trade with boozer for amare?
lewis?
i don’t think orlando will give up lewis. besides i don’t want his huge contract. that’s a lot of money for a guy who plays behind the arc. at least with the space case that is ak we get an all around game. in 2 years we will be looking to dump his (lewis) salary.
Jordan Hill?
What about the Jazz trading to get the #5 pick from the Wizards and getting Jordan Hill? He would give us some interior defense.
Orlando would never go for that trade.
Their whole offense is predicated around having three point shooters, of which Lewis is outstanding and AK is under average.
If Boozer doesn’t opt out, I think McGrady is who I would like to see in a Jazz uniform. Boozer, Miles, and Harpring would do the trick. If Boozer doesn’t opt out we lose Millsap. So move AK to the 4, and hope McGrady is healthy for the playoffs. Next year, the Jazz get alot of cap room, when his contract expires. If he would sign for cheap, great, if not replace him with that great Knicks pick… impact swings are the easiest players to draft in the top five, and that probably where that pick will be.

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